#ler!thomas

SUMMARY: john is an egotistical, hyper little shit. we all know that!! in a state of boredom, he goes up to his stoic older brother and decides to surprise attack him. it actually works, and once he's done, thomas gives john 5 seconds before his own demise

SEASON SET: SEASON ONE. JOHN IS 24 AND THOMAS IS 29

TW!!: swearing, brief smoking, mentions of death + war and mouth tickles

Small Heath, Birmingham was no easy place to live in 1919. After the war, tension was everywhere - the already raving streets now full of chaos and smoke. Grime coated the exterior of houses, fog clouded the city sights and children were roaming everywhere, unaccompanied and endangered.

Birmingham was no fun anymore, even for people in gangs - well, that was John's perspective. Being the youngest of the three main brothers, he had to grow up quite quickly, mature too fast. And although, yes, he was a capable man with a strong heart, he was also quite childish and his mindset resembled that of a teenage boy.

He needed some action— some spice to make his day, hell, maybe even his week a little more interesting. So, what not better to do than to torment his second-oldest brother? His most stoic brother? Thomas Shelby. Yet, sometimes, John had to admit even he was scared of his older brother, as his oldest was also a bit weary of the middle child. Why? Before the war in France, Thomas was lively - he laughed, he smiled, he was happy. But, after the war, that person didn't come back. A new Thomas came - a hardened, more stern, more emotionless Thomas that lead the gang called the 'Peaky Blinders'.

Aside from that aspect - John wasn't so worried. Maybe Thomas would appreciate it? Maybe he could escape fast enough? Oh well. No matter the consequences, he was already hooked on-

Well. What? He didn't know what to do -- so, he sat down in the meeting room, pondering. He didn't want to hurt Thomas, far from it, actually. Maybe it'd be good to see his brother laugh, at least once in a while, maybe he could..

It clicked.

It was stupid.

It was childish.

Oh, but that was who John was anyway, and God did it work. He'd just have to tickle him - I mean, when was the last time he saw that happen? Probably not even once. At that, John was set. Determined, he stood up and went to go find his brother.

"Aunt Pol! Aunt Pol? Have you seen Thomas anywhere?"

No answer.

"Arthur!! Where the fuck's Tom?"

"Oh, John, Tommy's in his office as usual. You should know that."

That was easy, only took 15 minutes. But, anyway, John made his way in without knocking and took a seat in front of his brothers desk, a cheeky, sly smirk already starting to force his way onto his lips. "What's up, Tom?"

Thomas only sighed, he didn't even have to look up to hear the smile in his younger brother's voice. He knew it meant trouble. Keeping his eyes on his letter as he wrote it, he answered gruffly. "Yes, John? What is it? If it isn't about business, it can wait." That only made John snicker.

Adjusting his hat, John rolled his eyes. He straightened out his suit and leaned backwards, his head hanging off of the chair. "What'cha doin', eh?" The mischievous one asked, lighting a cigarette and beginning to smoke it. Taking a long puff, he waited for Thomas' answer - a sigh of frustration.

Thomas kept his eyes on his pen, still writing about important things as he talked to John, trying to keep his mind on business. "Writing a letter to the Lee Family. We're conspiring for a deal. Now get out if you don't have anything important to say." He then looked up at John, finally, with a serious and stern look on his face.

"Why are you so serious, huh, bro? What's the matter?" John took another few puffs before stumping his cigarette down in Thomas' ash tray. "You know, you should laugh once ina' while. I haven't seen you laugh since the war. Ever since France, seeing our friends die n' shit, you haven't even made a joke! A fucking joke, Tom." Chair scraping against the wooden floorboards as he stood up abruptly, the sneaky, young adult made his way behind Thomas.

"You have seen me laugh, John."

"Not properly!"

The Leader of Peaky Blinders only rolled his eyes and set his pen down - that's when he tensed. "John. Get your 'ands off of me. I swear to God-" A sharp intake of breath.

"Oho- Are you still fuckin' ticklish, Tom?" The older brother immediately tried to escape, but a firm squeeze to the stomach made him snort and double over. Of course John still knew how to make him snort, of course. The younger only grinned widely and began to flutter his fingers over his navel.

"Pffhahaha- F-Fohor Christ sake, Johohn!" Thomas grabbed John's wrists, trying to push them away to no avail as he was only pushing weakly. It had been a while since he was able to laugh freely, and he didn't mind it so much. "I'm tryhying to w-write a fuhuck- fuckihihing lehehetter!" Slightly embarrassed, he hid his face in his arm, a soft pink hue settling on his face.

Not listening, John dragged his nails up along his brother's abs to his ribcage - his nails slightly grown out - and began to vibrate them gently into the skin in between each individual rib. "Your letter isn't fuckin' important right now. What is important is seeing you piss yourself laughing!" That earnt a sarcastic huff from Thomas, who was trying to keep his giggles in, hiding his mouth in his arm, but it was no use.

"Ahalright- Alright.. Thahahat's enohoHOUGH- JOHOHN!" The 29-year-old man practically squealed as he kicked out a leg, his younger brother had drilled his thumbs into his ever-so-sensitive hip divots. Slamming his hands into John's, he tried to push his wrists away for real. But, the tickling had made his strength evaporate. "LEHEHET ME GOHO- RIGHT NOHOW!"

"Mmm.. Nah. This shit is too fuckin' priceless go let go." That's when he felt Thomas really try to push him off, and he had to wrap his arms around the man to keep him still. John spidered his fingers up and down his sides and gently pinched at his hips. The Leader was in hysterics, banging his fist onto the table as he practically shook with laughter.

"G-GEHEHET THE FUHUCK OHOFF!" Thomas' cheeks began to ache from smiling so much - that's when he knew be bad enough. He then tapped out, and John slowed his hands to a stop. Smiling widely, the younger ruffled his hair. "Ahaha.. Heh.. Fuck.."

"See? That wasn't so bad, was it, Tom?"

"Five seconds."

"What?"

"You.. You have five fuhucking seconds to run before I bloody hunt you down."

John felt his cheeks heat up instantly, and be bolted faster than he ever had. He wasn't about to let this fucker- "Five." SHIT.

"Nononono-" He scrambled out of the office and into a room that no one ever went in. Yet, he wasn't safe there. Hidden behind the door, he felt Thomas near the room he was in. The door swung open, and John almost burst into nervous giggles right then and there. He had to cover his mouth, his cheeks already burning in embarrassment. He was fucking twenty-four! Why was he acting like a fourteen year old?!

Walking around the room slowly, Thomas checked every possible space John could be in. The latter thought he was safe, until: "You know, John. I'm not stupid." A snort slipped. He tried to bolt for it again, but felt hands wrap around his waist right before he set a foot out of the door.

"Noho- Nononono- Tohom-" John panicked through giggles, pushing at his hands.

"I'm not touching you yet."

That's when John felt himself get pinned to the floor, his arms being hoisted above his head. "That's- That's nohot fucking fair! I d-didn't pin you!" Thomas only raised an eyebrow and began tickling.

"Life's not fair, John." He began a lecture as he started to pinch and knead his brother's delicate sides, eliciting squeaky, boyish, frantic laughter from the grown man. "You should know that, for starters. We grew up in this shithole."

"SHUHUT UHUHUP! FUHUCK YOUHU-"

He let out a sweet snort, burying his blushing face into his pinned shoulder.

"Now, now, John. Not every sentence you speak has to have profanity in it." Thomas tutted, smirking when the younger arched his back when the older began to knuckle his ribs, snorting and squeaking with sweet belly laughter.

"I-IHI SAHAID SHUHUT UP, T-TOHOM!" John screeched, falling back against the floor and attempting to curl up. He was being dramatic, as usual. This wasn't a problem for Thomas, though, who kept switching spots to keep John laughing like a mad man. He found the edges of John's untucked shirt and slid his hard, calloused hands in to scribble at his belly button, electing a scream. "EHEHEHAHAHAHA-"

"Tch. Twenty-four, and you act like a toddler. You need to keep your shirt tucked in, John. The Peaky Blinders can't be seen as a lousy gang, can it now?" He scolded his brother as he ignored the screams coming from him. His blunt fingernails and rough skin only added to the torture as he switched between scribbling and clawing his lean stomach. John's eyes scrunched close.

"OHO, FUHUCK OHOFF- T-THIHIHIS GAHAHANG IHIS SHIHIT AHAHAHANYWAY-"

"...Is it now?" Thomas inquired, face darkening slightly as his fingers froze. Oh shit. Fuck. Please have mercy.

But, John wouldn't give up. Not now. He was doomed either way! "Y-Yeheah... I-It is.. WaitwaitwaitWAIIIT-" He instantly shrieked when he felt Thomas pull his shirt up to his ribs, eyes snapping open, all thoughts of not giving up vanishing.

"What? What do you possibly have to say for yourself?" Thomas asked with a raised eyebrow, eyes flickering down to John's midriff - the sensitive, delicate skin had gained a soft, red hue to match his blushing face.

"P-Plehease... I swear, I-I didn't mehean it-" John shied under his gaze, hiding his wobbly smile with his arm. This was a rare occurrence of when Thomas actually gave tickles like this, and they were the WORST.

"That won't save you." Thomas then proceeded to blow the biggest raspberry ever known to man onto John's lower stomach, his stubble scratching perfectly against the skin beneath. When I tell you John shrieked, I don't mean a brief one, I mean one that rang throughout the streets of Small Heath.

John shook his head from side to side hysterically, letting out extremely childish giggles, tears pricking his eyes (and soon streaming down his already glossy cheeks) as Thomas placed not one, not two, but three raspberries all over his stomach. "FUHUHUCK- OKAHAHAHAY! PLEHEHEASE- IHIHI- I'M SOHOHOHORRY!!" He yelled, barely able to speak before his laughter went completely silent. That's when Thomas took the sign to stop, releasing John and patting his chest.

"Still as weak to them as you were when you were twelve." The older teased lightly, standing up and watching John do so. When the younger stumbled, he gently caught him and rubbed his back. "Tuck your shirt in, look appropriate and go rest. We have a busy day tomorrow."

John nodded, wiping his tears with his sleeve. "Y-Yeah... Whatever.."

"...Love you, Tom."

"I love you too, John. Go rest now, and don't disturb me again."

~~~

Kronos was in his room, crossed legged as he diligently wiped the blades of his analog clock themed double-edged battle axe. He did with very little expression and with a fluid motion, like it was second nature to him. The orange facet gently hummed a tune, closely resembling the Lies song. He felt a tug in his chest area. He opened one eye before sighing deeply and putting the blade covers back on his axe, putting it back in its display cabinet before sinking out to the main living area. Kronos re-looped his orange, infinity scarf around his neck, before addressing Thomas first.

"Evening, Thomas."

The others all looked up quickly and greeted Kronos in their usual ways. Kronos visibly cringed. He had been present for quite some time and yet they were all acting like he just saw them? Why did that even make him irritated at all? Kronos huffed soundlessly before standing in between Logan and Virgil which stood right next to the wall near the stairs.

"We wanted to ask you something." "I prefer not to discussing my time… … there." "Oh, no! Nothing like that, kiddo!"

The others tensed a bit before Logan went to start speaking.

"We are trying to coordinate the appropriate time schedule for releasing Thomas' projects." "I thought I made one already. What was wrong with that schedule?" "Thomas has to go on that trip out of state. He's traveling with Nico for a vacation this coming—"

Patton stopped talking when he noticed Kronos' eyes change from its usual soft gray to a darker orange tint, Logan's eyes mirroring the same effect.

"Wh-what I meant to say is…" "So… we are once again going to prioritize productivity for Thomas' romantic affairs. Are we really going to keep doing this?" "We…" "I didn't get a say. Neither did Remus or Logan." "Buddy, it's nothing against you–" "I'm aware of that, Thomas. But it's not fair to me, or them, to keep being undermined by the others, whether they are direct causes or silent observers."

Kronos looks into Virgil and Janus' direction before looking back at Thomas.

"But with that said, I will revamp the schedule. What needs to be adjusted?"

The rest of the evening with smoothly as ever and after explaining more in detail why Thomas and Nice were going on the trip and that it wasn't going to be meaningless fluff, for the most part, the other three that hadn't gotten a chance to make a decision agreed to let Thomas go on the trip. By evening, the others had invited Kronos to stay in the main area and be a part of their monthly movie night. Kronos displayed a small scowl.

"Why would I do that?" "We are family again… right?" "Of course we are, Patton. I have been very helpful with my direct influence for the past 22 years."

Despite the deep sarcasm on Kronos' voice, it was a genuine belief he had. There was no way that the others were this accepting of him already. Kronos wasn't particular warm-hearted at this point, he was still concerned about the others perspective of him. The time alone has molded him idea that the others couldn't care about him outside of his job as Ethics and Time.

"Come on, Grubby~ It won't hurt you to hang out with us." "Do you want me to stay?"

The others all paused the various things they were doing and looked towards the butterfly trait. Kronos felt immediately cornered.

"You really don't have to force yourself to have me be here. I can… go back to my room." "No! It's fine, Kro."

Roman ushered Kronos over the couch where Remus was already standing behind the couch.

"Yeah. Just relax, Kronny~"

Kronos yelped. But it didn't sound like much of a yelp and more of some kind of shrill, honking noise that doubled as a hiccup. Kronos' ears burned red as his face flushed a dark tinge of pink. Remus had gripped the lower part of Kronos' back, close to the sides of his spine.

"Uhuhuh… Remus?" "What? All I did was."

Kronos made that same weird noise but this time covered up his back with his butterfly wings. Though no one acted upon this at the time, the others were definitely going to exploit this for the time being.

~_~_~_~_~_~

[Monday] --- Remus

It was early in the morning. Kronos had decided to get up and make breakfast for the others. Though it took him sometime to find all of the bowls and stuff to make the best cinnamon French toast, he finally managed to get everything together. He was looking over the various recipes and the notes and writings he had written in them. These books were some of the only memorabilia that he had in the Subconscious. He held them very near and dear to his heart.

Kronos wiped his face of the tears that were about to fall as he finished up the milk mixture he had made, going to the bread box for the Artsento Bricheo bread slices. Only he didn't find any bread at all. He looked at the container in confusion and then turned around and not only was the mixture gone, so was the skillet he had just buttered.

"Wha the… AHH!"

Kronos was lifted upside down from tentacles that seemed that have sprouted from the ceiling. The butterfly facet looked at the intrusive aspect that was sitting on top of the fridge. Where did he come from? Well, they could emerge from anywhere. But Kronos was a very observant person, so for him to have sneaked up on him was still a mystery.

"Morning, Remus." "Hiya!"

Kronos grumbled a bit when he noticed Remus holding the skillet in one hand and the bowl of milk mixture in his lap with a silly straw inside of it. Remus took a big sip before looking back at Kronos.

"Remus! What are you doing with that mixture?! That's for the bread!" "Hmm… no need. You should be asleep anyway, right?"

Kronos knew this shtick already. Janus posing as others to get his messages across but he also never wanted to assume anything. Remus was an open book without much need to try to fool anyone. That's what made the deceptive trait and him such a dynamic duo. Or at least one of the main reasons that they went together like peanut butter and jelly.

"I have all the rest I need for a while, Remus."

Kronos struggled against the tentacles holding his ankles in the air. Remus stroked his mustache evilly.

"You know… A little birdie told me someone has ticklish sides."

Kronos' eyes widened. Yep. This was Remus. Kronos was already trying to hold back his reactions as best he could.

"Ree! No! Please! I can't…"

Remus brought Kronos' back closer to him as he drank the mixture some more. He brought his hands towards the lower part of Kronos' back and placed his thumb right near that spot while the others wrapped around Kronos' sides. Remus felt Kronos stiffen up but his wings never deploy. With a final smirk, Remus rapidly thumbed and squeeze those special spots. Kronos was a cackling mess. He was so loud with his sounds, the others had woken up and sprinted to the kitchen downstairs.

"REMUS!" "… with a little sin~ Oh hey guys!" "MAKEHIMSTAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!! GAHAHAHAHAAAAA!! ITTICKLES!! ITREHEHEHALLYDOES!!"

After getting through to Remus' stubbornness, his tentacles finally let Kronos go. Kronos fell to the floor, letting his wings wrap his body in self-defense.

"What were you two doing?" "Mahahahaking breheheheakfast…" "He should still be asleep. It 4 a.m." "You don't even have a regular sleep schedule, Ree." "Touche, bro-bro!"

Kronos was still curled up for a while and was edge for the remainder of the day, even if the Duke never did it again.

~_~_~_~_~_~

[Tuesday] --- Thomas

Thomas and Kronos were going over some last minute things for the trip and since the others were asleep, his own available Side was Kronos who had still been up trying to silence his mind because of his insomnia.

"I was thinking going to this place in the morning." "What time do they open?" "Uhh… I think it's—" "Know it. Don't question it."

Thomas sighed and opened his computer back open for the umpteenth time that day.

"Oh… 9 a.m." "Do you think you could wait that long to eat in the morning?" "I could have a small breakfast snack."

Kronos considered it for a moment before nodding at his host.

"I will be sure to remind you to pack or buy some of those Little Bites you love to eat in the morning." "Thank you so much for your help, buddy!"

Kronos squawked when Thomas patted his lower back. The two stared at each other for some time before Thomas acknowledged his hand placement and started wiggling his fingers there. Kronos buckled his knees and snickered behind his hand.

"Oh my god! You are ticklish!" "Uhuhuhuh… sure…" "This is so neat." "THOMAS!"

Again with that godforsaken spine-side part of his back.

"Come on, it’s not that bad, is it?" "YES! YAHAHAHAHAHAS! IT TICKLES…"

Kronos inhaled deeply before making that honking-hiccup noise.

"… GAH IT TIHIHIHICKLES SO BAHAHAHAHAHAD!!" "That's so cool!"

Kronos just slumped down against Thomas, barely being able to stand as he tossed his head back and forth, trying to rid himself of the sensation in anyway he could. At least his host didn't think it was a weird weakness.

~_~_~_~_~_~

[Wednesday] --- Janus

The day had been hectic for really no reason. Because of morning full of procrastinating on both Thomas and the Sides part, they were going to be behind schedule that day and had to meet up with Nico again because of course they did. This caused the timely aspect to be rightfully upset with the scattered plans and promises.

He had went downstairs to get a mug for some more decaf coffee. Janus was already in the kitchen. From his slumped posture, Kronos deduced he had been drinking.

"Nice to know that you drink at any time of the day. Such a respectable habit you have developed, Janus."

Janus looked up. Oh, his eyes were fine. Kronos cleared his throat before trying to find the words.

"Apologies, Janus." "I'm not offended at all."

Janus walked over to Kronos slowly as he "hugged" him from behind. Kronos was already tensing up but his face was already contorting.

"Plehehehease… please…" "What's with the bad mood? I think that may need to be remedied…"

Janus summoned his other two pair of arms—one set of hands holding Kronos' arms up, two more placed on his hips, while the last two were on those spots. Kronos didn't even bother holding in his laughter.

"Wahahahahait… wait!" "Kitchy kitchy coo coo~" "NAEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!"

Kronos bounced his legs up and down, trying to get away from the hands. Janus squeezed Kronos' hips once and his knees buckled, leaving Kronos half laying against the lying side's legs.

"IPLEADIPLEADIPLEHEHEHEHEAD!!"

Janus let Kronos go eventually, swiftly yet gently grabbing a mug, saucer and spoon as he added a tea bag and warm milk to the cup. He slid it over to Kronos who was still recovering.

"Take the drink and go back to your room. You need to rest." "But…" "Real rest, Kro-nos."

Kronos whined but took the mug anyway. Not long after, Janus heard the ethical side sleeping on the couch, probably not being able to get to the stairs as is.

~_~_~_~_~_~

[Thursday] --- Virgil

New clothes, same personality. Each side had contribute something to his new attire and Virgil was his last stop.

"You sure you don't still wear these?" "Those boots? I haven't worn them since… shit it's really been that long… it's been years. You can have them. They don't really match my other clothes anyway."

Kronos pulled the long brown boots up on his legs and examined himself. Looking in mirrors too long gave him the heebie jeebies. Then again, it wasn't really his thing to be vain or full of himself in a sense of always looking at himself. Virgil saw Kronos' new turtleneck sweater bunched up so adjusted it only Kronos to nearly jump out of his skin.

"Whoa! I didn't expect that much of a reaction." "Sohoho sorry! It's been… ehehehehe… a long weheheheheek!" "I'd say."

Virgil waited a beat before asking if Kronos was okay with it. Kronos paused himself, biting his lip. He wasn't opposed to it by this point. The majority of everyone, including Thomas, had already done it. Why not Virgil? Kronos nodded and lifted his arms up. Though, Virgil wasn't as intense with it, it still tickled like hell and Kronos still had a hard time not falling over and curling up once he made it to the spot close to his spine.

~_~_~_~_~_~

[Friday] --- Roman

After hours of creating blueprints, Roman had finally came up with a good idea for a framed stained glass window. Kronos tilted his head at the design.

"See see! They have my star thingies all over! My emblem is in the middle with my kingdom behind it. Oh and my lovely prince charming of a sword right there!"

Kronos nodded as he went over to his sand pit and started get the supplies for the different colors to change the sand colors. Kronos sectioned off the areas and did his best to stay quiet. Roman started becoming impatient, not so much for waiting on the window art but because of the silence.

"Kro! I'm bored!" "One more minute, Roman."

Roman shook his head. Kronos was almost done before Roman started tickling the special spot.

"NOHOHOHOT AGAIN!"

Roman snickered mischievously before he went between poking the spine spots and squeezing Kronos' sides. Kronos turned around and put his hands up to stop Roman. Roman dipped under Kronos' arms and pinned him down to the floor with a playful laugh. The poking and squishing continued. Kronos cackled and squirmed.

"Aww~ Someone's a ticklish little caterpillar~ Tickle tickle tickle~" "Stohohohohop… STAHAHAP SAYING THAT!" "What's that? Stop saying tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle?"

Kronos nodded rapidly, making various sounds that only added to the embarrassment. Roman continued for a while but with the bonus of giving Kronos the option to get revenge on him which Kronos took but didn't take it very far. Roman's thighs were very sensitive much like his back.

~_~_~_~_~_~

[Saturday] --- Logan

It had been a long week and quite honestly, it wasn't that bad. The tickling sessions got Kronos' mind to be put on other things rather than him doing his task with a pessimist viewpoint and dull expression. He was starting to smile more, enjoy the others company and even gotten used to Remus just randomly barraging in on whatever he was doing and attacking him. One instances leading to a kiss to the cheek and leaving the ethical figment flushing red.

But that still didn't change his perception of some aspects of it. Specifically him being ticklish in the first place and that weird ass honking noise he kept making when that spot was touched. So for the first time, he just went to someone and asked. Logan was a bit perplexed by the statements that Kronos was making about the ticklishness.

"Since we are all embodiments of Thomas, we should all carry the same ability to be sensitive to touch." "But the rest of you aren't as ticklish on your sides or back as I am. Your worst spots are your feet and hips."

Logan suddenly had a bit of pink dust his cheeks as he cleared his throat.

"Affirmative. My sides and feet are my worst spots. However, what makes it so frustrating for you, Kronos?" "I don't know, Lo. It's just… it's embarrassing."

That's when Logan stepped a bit closer to the orange trait, tapping an odd pen on the whiteboard behind him with a few robotic arms emerging from the projector box near the ceiling and holding Kronos' wrists up.

"Now, why would that be?"

Logan began teasing for the spot that made Kronos so sensitive as Kronos was already in a puddle of hiccups and squirmed around.

"Why are you embarrassed to admit that you’re ticklish?? It’s a perfectly natural physiological response. The nerve endings in your skin are supposed to send alerts to the brain that trigger a response of laughter." "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! NO!! WAHAHAIT!! PLEHEHEHEASE!!" "Hmm… I wonder if there is something about Thomas that makes you react this way to your back being sensitive. Perhaps, it's another genetic deviation that the rest of us don't have the ability to acquire."

It was a running joke that Kronos was the "Embodiment of Recessive Genes". From his freckled covered cheeks, medium length white hair, gray eyes, and being a Type 1 Diabetic? Yeah, there were some major differences between him and the other Sides. This must be another one of those instances.

"Sh-sh-SHIHIHIHIHIHIT! CAN'TBREHEHEHEHEATHE!" "We don't need oxygen, Kronos. We are fictional."

Kronos shimmied around, his knees nearly buckling before Logan snaps and the wrists go away.

"This is rather interesting. Let's see if we can find any other spots."

Kronos spent the next few hours giggling and chortling. Logan was even fascinated at the sound that Kronos always made when he got a bad spot, referring to it as "snorting" rather than "honking". Though it was incredibly flustering, it was still a great bonding experience between the two brothers.

~_~_~_~_~_~

[Sunday] --- Patton

Kronos had been on edge most of the day. Keeping to the schedule today was a must, otherwise Thomas was miss his time to get to the airport and board the plane. He kept checking in on the others and Thomas to make sure that everything was going according to plan. He didn't rest the whole night even after his encounter with Logan and his plethora of tickling concepts that all left the poor timely aspect exhausted yet his mind kept buzzing all night.

Just as Thomas was leaving his apartment, Kronos had sank out to the living room where Patton was. He was baby talking to his pet frog before looking up at Kronos.

"Oh hi, Kronos! Has Thomas left yet?" "Yes. He just got in the car." "Awesome!"

Kronos slumped down next to the fatherly figment, placing a fist to his cheek. He was so tired, so anxious.

"Kiddo?"

Kronos blinked himself awake for the fourth or so time before turning his head to Patton. He couldn't find the strength to speak so just hummed and nodded in his direction. Patton looked at Kronos with a soft, thoughtful expression.

"Hey, Kro. You can… just… put your PJs on. You don't have to stay up any longer." "But what about the schedule? I'm trying to give Logan some time to rest up too." "I'll see if Roman or Janus can do it. You both can rest now." "I…" "I'll give you a back massage."

Kronos snickered behind his palm before swallowing, snapping his fingers for his usual sweatshirt and shorts set to appear on his body. Patton laid Kronos' head against his chest. Kronos was splayed out over the sofa, humming softly as Patton reached for his lower back. Kronos was already giggling hard.

"Can you… do the thing?"

This must've been Patton's way of asking permission to go for the spot. Kronos nodded. Patton thumbed the spot and Kronos broke into squeaky, hiccup-y laughter, burying his face deeper into Patton's polo. Patton gasped.

"That's so adorable! You have such a cute laugh, kiddo!"

Thomas was really struggling with his intrusive thoughts. Remus just wouldn’t shut up. He had been badgering him all day with thought after thought. And not a single break was thrown in for him. Just constant thoughts…

“How many stabs do you think it takes to kill someone?” Remus asked Thomas. He pulled out a dagger. “Wanna test it out?” 

Thomas shook his head. “No.” 

“Well TOO BAD!” Remus summoned Patton in his arms and laid Patton onto the ground. 

“Wait, WHAT?! REMUS-” Thomas shouted. 

“REMUS?!” Patton shouted as well. 

Remus was about to shove the knife into Patton’s middle. But Thomas grabbed his arm before he could lower his arm down. “Patton, GO!” Thomas ordered. 

Patton sprinted away as fast as he could. 

“NO! My guinea pig!” Remus reacted. 

Thomas slapped the knife out of Remus’s hand and threw it behind him. “You are taking it way too far this time.” Thomas told him. 

“Oh please…Like I haven’t done that before.” Remus rolled his eyes. “Knives on glass plates!” Remus declared. 

Thomas yelped and threw Remus to the ground. “NO!” Thomas yelled, covering his ears. 

Remus giggled evilly and snapped his fingers. Thomas widened his eyes as he felt something big and slimy appear in his mouth. Thomas spat it out and started to gag just from looking at it. It was a raw octopus tentacle. 

“Mmm! Looks tasty!” Remus reacted as he grabbed the flopping octopus tentacle, dipped it in a full raw egg shell and bit into it. You could hear the squishing and the crackling sounds as he chewed on the tentacle. 

Thomas was so close to throwing up. “R-Rem…Remus…st-stop.” Thomas ordered, growing pale. 

Remus smirked and licked his lips. “How about I help you out?” Remus asked. 

He scooted himself closer to Thomas and blew his fishy breath mixed with 10 year old morning breath into his face. 

Thomas finally threw up onto the floor. He coughed and groaned as he looked at the mess he made. “Oh god-” 

Remus slid himself onto the floor and grabbed a spoon. “Time to dig in!” Remus declared. 

Thomas covered his mouth in horror as he watched Remus take a spoonful of vomit and shove it into his mouth. 

“R-” Thomas growled and threw his hands down to his own sides. “ROMAN!” Thomas shouted. 

Roman rose up from the mind palace. “Is my damsel in distress in-” Roman widened his eyes and groaned. “Remus…” Roman walked up to Remus and kicked his head away from the vomit. 

Remus was just laughing maniacally as he laid on his back. 

Roman sighed and snapped his fingers. And just like that, Thomas’s vomit had disappeared from the floor. Then, Roman gave Thomas some Pepto Bismol and some water. “To help your tummy ache.” Roman told Thomas. 

Thomas ate the pepto bismol and drank some of the water. “Thank you.” Thomas told him. 

“Pleasure to help a victim of my brother’s endeavors.” Roman replied. 

Thomas cleared his throat. “Alright…Now, that’s not the only reason I called you here.” Thomas admitted. 

“Oh? And what would my dear Thomas like from his special prince?” Roman asked, sounding more feminine the more he spoke. 

Thomas sighed and looked at Remus, who was scratching his ear like a dog. “What is…Remus’s weakness?” Thomas asked. 

Roman blinked and widened his eyes in surprise. 

Thomas sat down on the couch. “I’ve done everything I could to stop Remus. But nothing is working.” Thomas told him. 

Roman nodded. “Honestly, I have too…” Roman admitted. 

Thomas looked down. “Is Remus even capable of having a weakness?” he asked. 

Roman smiled a little bit. “Actually…yeah. He is.” Roman replied. 

Now it was Thomas’s turn to look at Roman in surprise. “Really? Remus has a weakness?” Thomas asked. 

Remus looked up. “Why are you surprised, Thomas?” Remus asked. 

Thomas threw his arms up. “B-Because you’re…YOU’RE YOU!” Thomas replied. 

Roman chuckled. “Give him a rest.” Roman told Remus. He turned to Thomas. “Yes, Remus has weaknesses. For example:” 

Roman summoned a little baby into his own arms. Remus yelped and backed up a bit, while Thomas gasped and cooed happily. “Awwww! What’s their name?” Thomas asked. 

“His name is Lucas!” Roman replied. 

Thomas looked at Remus and immediately noticed how much his body composure had changed. He was nervous, tense, and staring at the baby with worried eyes. 

“Holy…You do not like babies.” Thomas reacted calmly. 

Roman smirked. “Come on, Remus! Try holding onto the baby-” Roman kept bringing the baby closer and closer to Remus. 

“NO! No, keep that thing away from me. You so much as touch me with that baby, and I will punch you.” Remus warned. 

Roman chuckled. “Remus is terrified of babies the same way Patton’s-” 

“-afraid of spiders!” Thomas reacted. Thomas walked over and gently took the baby from Roman. “What else is he scared of?” Thomas asked. 

Roman smirked and summoned a monarch butterfly. “These.” Roman replied. 

Remus widened his eyes and slowly threw his hands up. “Oh boy…” 

Thomas widened his eyes. “...Butterflies…” Thomas muttered. 

Roman giggled and summoned a butterfly onto Remus’s head. Remus narrowed his eyes at Roman. “What did you just do?” He asked. 

Thomas pulled out a hand mirror and showed Remus. The moment Remus looked up and saw the butterfly on his head, he gasped and covered his mouth. “Ohno- nononono- Roman, get it off. NOW.” Remus ordered. 

Thomas chuckled and used the mirror to gently lift the butterfly off his head. “It’s alright. It’s just a butterfly. A small, harmless, fluttery little butterfly.” Thomas told him, showing him the butterfly. 

“Okay…As long as the creepy thing is over there and not close to-” Remus screeched as Thomas waved the mirror, making the butterfly jump off the mirror and flap its delicate wings to Remus. “AAH! NO! STAYAWAY! GET! AWAY!” Remus shouted, swatting at it and cowering away. 

Thomas couldn’t help but laugh. It was hilarious to him! 

Roman giggled and finally grabbed the butterfly from the air. “Alright. I think that’s enough of that.” Roman told him. 

Thomas whined. “Awww…but I was enjoying that.” Thomas complained. 

“Enjoying seeing me suffer?” Remus reacted. 

Thomas looked at Roman with wide eyes and shock. “Are you hearing this guy?!” 

Roman laughed. “I completely agree.” Roman replied. He looked at his brother. “Come on, Remus. You know how fun it is to torture people.” Roman told him. 

Remus huffed and crossed his arms, pouting. He blew a raspberry with his tongue out, and slumped down. 

“Awww, come on…Don’t be like that.” Roman teased, sitting down beside him and bringing his fingers closer to him. 

“Be like what?” Remus asked innocently. 

Roman smirked and gave both of Remus’s sides a squeeze. “Don’t be all pouty.” Roman told him. 

Remus gasped and covered his mouth. “W-WAIT-” Remus turned to Roman and quickly tried to push Roman’s face and hands away from him. “Don’t even think about it!” 

Roman giggled evilly. “Ohoho…” He smirked. “I’ve thought about it…” 

Remus looked at him with fearful eyes. “A…And?” 

Roman brought his hands up in front of Remus and snapped his fingers. In a split second, Roman’s hands were covered with silk black gloves with googly eyes glued to the top of his hands. 

“Heeeere come the tickle spiders!” Roman brought his hands up to Remus’s ribs and started tickling all over. 

Thomas dropped his jaw in shock as he watched Remus squeal, smile brightly and kick his feet all over the place. Roman was squeezing his sides and tickling Remus’s ribs with his fast, strong fingers. “Remus…is ticklish?!” Thomas reacted. 

Roman giggled and nodded. “Yup! And we used to have a favorite tickle game.” Roman removed one of his hands from the ribs and showed Thomas his gloved hands. “Remus LOVES being tickled by the tickle spiders.” Roman told Thomas. “Don’tcha? Oh don’tcha Remus?” Roman teased, making his voice high-pitched. 

Remus was laughing and snorting. “NAHAHAT THEHEHERE! PLEHEHEEEEEASE!” Remus laughed. 

Thomas smiled a little bit. “Do you happen to have more of those gloves?” Thomas asked. 

Roman paused his tickle attack, snapped his fingers, and went right back to tickling. Thomas looked down at his hands and raised them up. He now had black silk gloves with googly eyes, comfortably covering his hands. Thomas giggled evilly (which sounded identical to Roman’s evil laugh) and started tickling Remus’s belly. “Oh no! More spiders have come to tickle our little ticklish Remus!” Thomas reacted. 

Remus squealed and was weakly pushing one hand against each tickle monster’s chests. “NOHOHohohoho! Cohohome ohohohon!” Remus giggled. 

“You come on!” Thomas teased. 

“Hey Remus! What’s a spider’s favorite place to hide?” Roman asked. 

Remus gasped and looked at Roman. “NO! Plehehease dohohon’t!” Remus begged. 

Roman slowly walked his fingers into Remus’s armpit and started skittering his fingers. “Right in the pitsies!” Roman teased. 

Remus snorted and threw his head back, cackling his head off. “IHIHI CAHAHAHAN’T!” Remus told them. 

“Awww, can poor Remus not take the tickles?” Thomas asked. 

“YEHEHEHEAAAH!” Remus replied. 

“Oh! Oh you CAN take the tickles?!” Thomas reacted. “Phew! That’s a relief!” 

“How does one read a book with all-” Logan rose up, reading a big textbook. Logan looked up from the book and raised his eyebrows in surprise. “...Oh…” Was all Logan could say as he adjusted his glasses. 

Patton rose up next. “Ugh…What’s that smell-” Patton dropped his jaw in shock. “What…YOU’RE HAVING A TICKLE FIGHT WITHOUT ME?!” Patton yelled. 

Roman looked over at Patton and quickly stopped tickling Remus to pull Patton over. “What are you waiting for?! Get his hips! They’re REALLY bad.” Roman told Patton. 

“I…” Patton wasn’t sure if he should even touch Remus, let alone tickle him. “He’s not gonna…act all weird about it…will he?” Patton asked, scratching the back of his head. 

Thomas chuckled. “Worst thing he’ll do is snort at us.” Thomas told him. 

Patton bit the inside of his lip and finally gave in. “Fine.” he said with a sigh and a smile. He just can’t really say no to his kiddo. 

Patton gently sat onto Remus’s legs and started digging his thumbs into Remus’s hips. Remus wheezed and arched his back as he cackled loudly. 

“Oho my gosh! You’re right! His hips ARE really bad!” Patton reacted. 

Roman nodded. “Told ya!” Roman replied. 

Thomas went back to skittering his fingers all over Remus’s belly and lower ribs. He even added in little ‘nom nom’ sounds as he tickled and squeezed. 

Remus’s hair and mustache were all askew at this point. And Remus was starting to grow tired from all the tickles. He wasn’t used to being tickled for so long. But…it wasn’t as bad as he expected. 

Remus was getting some work done on his body by Thomas.

“Sorry to say it Remus, but you’re too scary.” Thomas told him.

“I am?”

“Yes.” Thomas plugged some wires into something. “So we need to add something...nicer and more innocent to make you more suitable for kids.” Thomas told him.

“Awww...I thought I was great the way I am!” Remus reacted.

“You are! But...we need to make you extra great!” Thomas told him. “Now, take a look.” Thomas gave him a mirror and let him look around.

Remus started to look around, and noticed there were sensors on him! sensors on his belly, sensors on his sides, sensors on his neck, sensors on his feet, and sensors in his armpits. “What...are these for, exactly?” Remus asked.

“Well...These sensors that I added to you are for something we call...tickling.” Thomas told him.

Remus tilted his head. “Tickling?” he asked.

“Yup!” Thomas replied.

“What’s it for?” Remus asked.

“For fun!” Thomas started wiggling his fingers in midair, in an attempt to get him to react. But Remus...didn’t react. He just blinked. “I don’t get it.”

Thomas walked up to Remus and started to drag a finger across the sensor on his belly. “The sensor is supposed to make you laugh.”

Remus’s face went dumbfounded as the sensor sent signals to his brain to laugh, laugh, laugh! Remus quickly grew a smile, and wheezed out of surprise! “EHEhehehehe!” Remus finally laughed, doubling over. “Whahahat-”

“I gave the sensors stronger, and weaker scales for each spot. To start you off easy, I set the scales to medium and moderate.” Thomas started skittering his fingers on the sides to show him the difference. “Your sides are much more ticklish!”

“BWAHAHAHAhahahahaha! Remus laughed, kicking his feet. “THIHIS IHIHIS SOHOHOHO WEIHIHIRD!”

“And your neck is the only really bad spot on your body so far.” Thomas told him as he scratched the sensor on his neck.

Remus screeched and cackled loudly at that spot.

“And so are your feet.” Thomas added before finally stopping. “Last but not least...I added sensors on your back and upper shoulders so you can enjoy a hug properly.” Thomas wrapped his arms around the robot and placed his hands onto the sensors between Remus’s shoulder blades. These specific sensors caused him to be extra happy and slowly sleepy. “If a person holds onto you for long enough, you might even fall asleep on the spot.”

“This feels…” Remus yawned and closed his eyes. “A-Amazing...” Remus reacted calmly.

“And when I…” Thomas removed his hands and let go of Remus. This caused Remus to perk back up with more energy!

“That was great! What was that?” Remus asked.

“That was a hug.” Thomas told him. “And I made sure to add sensors to different spots so hugs and tickles can be accessed from any position.” Thomas told him.

Remus nodded. “Okay.”

Thomas smiled. “I’ll let you settle in for the night.” Thomas told him.

“Okay.” Remus replied. “One more hug?”

Thomas nodded and gave him another hug. This time, his arms were pressed onto his upper ribs sensors and onto the spine. Thomas rested his head onto the robot’s belly, letting Remus feel the hug.

Remus felt the hug quite a bit! It felt nice to him...It made him wanna jump around and squeal out of pure excitement!

[A few days later]

Remus was spending time with some kids off the stage. He was having a grand old time, too!

“I heard you got something new!” A kid named Violet said.

“Yeah! SHOW US!” Andrew said!

“Okay!” Remus pointed at the sensors on his sides. “Touch them!”

A kid known as Vincent walked up and poked the sensor.

Remus giggled and laughed as the sensor was poked.

“I don’t get it…” Vincent muttered.

“I can laugh at touches now!” Remus told him.

“Wait...do you mean ‘ticklish’?” Vincent asked.

Violet and Andrew leaned in curiously.

“I guess, yea! I’m ticklish!” Remus replied.

A kid with the nametag ‘Insanity’ on it, smiled evilly.

Another kid known as Zahwa also smirked.

It didn’t take long before the kids were all tickling Remus’s different sensors.

“HEhehehehey! Ohohohoho bohohohoy…” Remus muttered.

“Tickle tickle tickle!” Zahwa giggled evilly.

Another kid with the word ‘leigh’ on her nametag, ran up and started tickling his neck.

“EEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!” Remus laughed.

“His neck is really ticklish!” Leigh said.

Insanity smiled and started tickling his belly next.

Remus wiggled around and started giggling wildly. “NOHOhohohoHOHOHO!”

“Wow! He’s really ticklish now!” Insanity said.

“If you can call it being ticklish...Normally tickling comes with a feeling.” Vincent mentioned.

“I think it counts.” Andrew mentioned.

“It counts!” Someone said. Everyone looked over, and noticed a girl with the name ‘Jazzy’ written on their nametag. She was tickling Remus’s back. “He laughs when he’s touched, so that counts as tickling!”

Another person showed up with the name ‘Rae’ written on her nametag. “Should we try his feet?”

The kids looked at Remus’s feet with curiosity.

“NO! NOT THERE! PLEASE!” Remus begged.

Roman ran up. “I think he’s had enough. Besides: His feet are the reason he smells so bad.” Roman told them.

“He doesn’t smell that bad…” Rae told him.

“Yeah! He smells like metal to me...but that’s all!” Jazzy mentioned.

Leigh, Luna and Zahwa ran up to Remus’s feet and checked under the shoe. Sure enough, there was a sensor there! And there were even little sensors under the toes.

“Oooooh!” A few of the kids cooed at the same time.

“Try the toes first!” Vincent declared.

“Yeah!” Andrew added.

Violet took his foot in one hand and tickled the toes with her other hand. Remus SCREAMED and cackled loudly! “OHOHOHO GAHAHAHAHAHAHA! MAHAHAKE IHIHIHIT STAHAHAHAHAP!” Remus shouted.

“Alright kids, I think he’s had enough. Run along now.” Roman encouraged.

“But robots don’t have lungs. They don’t need to breathe.” Vincent mentioned.

“So...does that mean we can tickle him as long as we want to?” Andrew asked.

“But what about his metal parts? Can’t they overload?” Insanity asked.

“Probably.” Violet replied.

“Okay.” Insanity replied. “Thank you!”

Remus smiled and hugged Insanity. “You’re welcome.”

The kids all said their goodbyes and left Remus and Roman alone to contemplate Remus’s new weakness.

[A few days later:]

Virgil could hear an awful lot of laughter coming from Remus that day. The whole shift was filled with his pleading laughter.

“HEHEHEHEHELP MEHEHEHEHE!”

“IHIHIHIHIT’S SOHOHOHOHO BAHAHAHAHAD!”

“You should’ve thought about this outcome before you stole my glasses.”

“WHYHYHYHYHY?!”

“Because tickling you is fun, and you don’t have lungs like Virgil.”

“PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE STAHAHAHAHAP!”

“No.”

Virgil sighed and walked to where the boys were tickle fighting. Logan was currently tickling his toes while Remus was laughing up a storm, dangling upside down with only Logan holding him up.

Right away, Remus sensed someone else was there other than Logan. “HEHEHEHELP MEHEHEHEHEHE!” Remus begged to the unknown person.

“And stop the explosions of laughter filling the hallways? No way.” Virgil teased with a grin.

“PLEHEHEHEHEHEASE! IHIHIHI’LL DOHOHO AHAHAHANYTHIHING!” Remus pleaded.

Virgil sighed and decided to help him out. As much as he loved the laughter, he knew Remus was probably going insane with all the constant laughter. Virgil took the glasses from Remus’s hands, and ran away with him.

“HEY.” Logan dropped Remus right on his head, and sprinted after Virgil. “GET BACK HERE WITH MY GLASSES.”

“NEVER!” Virgil shouted back.

“I AM A ROBOT! I AM SO MUCH FASTER THAN YOU, VIRGIL. SO GIVE UP NOW, OR I WILL BE FORCED TO PUT FORTH DESPERATE MEASURES.” Logan shouted in a low, monotone voice.

Virgil shrieked as he looked back. Logan was RIGHT ON HIS TAIL!

Virgil tried to turn some corners so it would slow down the robot. But instead, it just made the robot faster! It was TERRIFYING hearing hard metal clanging the ground like that.

Finally, Virgil gave up and dropped the glasses. “Fine...You win.”

Logan slowed to a stop with almost perfect speed. “Not yet…” Logan fixed his gloves and straightened his tie. “Someone decided to steal Logan’s glasses. And they are going to pay for that.” Logan said rather calmly as he got closer and closer to Virgil.

“Wait- WAIT!

Logan stopped and waited.

Virgil bit his lip. “Uh…” Virgil pulled something out. “$50?” Virgil asked.

Logan slapped the 50 dollar bill away and dug his fingers into Virgil’s sides and belly.

Virgil squealed and bursted out laughing right away. “WAHahahahahait, dohohohon’t!”

“A proper thievery deserves a judgement call. I sentence you to 15 minutes of tickles.” Logan decided out of the blue.

Virgil giggled and laughed as certain spots were touched. His sides, his armpits, his hips, even his feet were tickled.

“IHIHIHI’LL GEHEHEHET YOHOHOHOU FOHOHOR THIHIHIS!”

“A small reminder that I lack the sensors to be tickled.” Logan told him.

“That’ll change.” Someone said behind them.

Logan widened his eyes and turned around.

There, standing in the doorway, was Remus. “Thomas said he was gonna be working on you next. He claims you ‘lack social skills’ and ‘need to lighten up’.” Remus told him.

Logan blinked in horror and looked down at the floor.

Thomas had been trying to hang out with all the sides as Valentine's Day showed up. He often tried to save the Valentine’s family/friends stuff on actual Valentine’s day, and would celebrate with the sides before the day. He adored them and wanted to show his appreciation for all the parts of him that made him Thomas Sanders.

He had started out with Patton because he had known him the longest. He made Valentine’s crafts and cards with the Dad, and had a snuggle party with all of Patton’s stuffed animals! They even made little palm-sized heart pillows! They were so cute and a couple of them ended up with googly eyes and pink lipstick!

For Logan, Thomas had put together some board games to play and shared a cup of red wine with him. Logan often liked simple and enjoyable, so Thomas offered that to him. He also...may or may not have drawn little hearts and cheesy messages on Logan’s face by the time he fell asleep from the wine...

When he moved onto Roman, Thomas threw a red-themed Valentine’s Day fiesca for him. Roman happily enjoyed the endless chocolate bits, the cute little edible hearts and absolutely loved the roses he received for Valentines day. “I no longer feel single this Valentine’s Day!” Roman had reacted, crying a tear or two.

Now, it was Virgil’s turn. He didn’t really know what exactly to do because of his ‘darker’ aesthetic. But, he knew Virgil would help him figure out what they could do together. Thomas called him and had him summoned in front of him.

Virgil stumbled a little as he was summoned. “Oh- Jeez! Warn a dude, Thomas!” Virgil reacted, thrown a little off guard by the sudden change of scenery.

Thomas bit his lip in both guilt yet amusement. “Hi Virgil. Sorry about that.” Thomas replied, waving.

Virgil adjusted his sweater and moved his bangs back into his eyes. “‘Sup Thomas. Whatddya need?” He asked.

Thomas chuckled and handed him a card that said ‘Valentine I’m batty for you’ with a cute bat and a few black and purple hearts below it. Virgil smiled a little at the gesture. “Thanks Thomas. You didn’t have to.”

Thomas laughed at that. “I wanted to! I wanted to hang out with you!” Thomas told him.

Virgil raised his eyebrows. “Say what now?”

Thomas giggled. “I want to hang out with you.” Thomas repeated.

Virgil looked around a little and shrugged his shoulders. “Alright.”

Virgil took his invite, but his eyes said something a little different.

“You okay?” Thomas asked.

Virgil bit his lip and looked away. “Why the hell do you wanna hang out with me of all people?” Virgil asked.

Thomas’s face softened as he opened his arms to him. Virgil reluctantly took the hug, and grew surprised when he felt Thomas sit him down. “Because I’m celebrating Valentine’s day with all the sides!” Thomas replied.

Virgil lifted an eyebrow. “But...Why me? Anxiety? Hello?” Virgil asked, a little more bluntly. “Why not Patton?”

Thomas smiled at that. “Cause I’m in the mood to hang out with you!” Thomas replied. “And I already hung out with Patton recently.”

Virgil blinked in surprise. “Uh…okay…”

Virgil shifted in his seat, not sure what he had planned. “So...What do you wanna...y’know...do?” he asked.

Thomas shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea. What do you do on Valentines day?” Thomas asked.

Virgil scoffed and smiled. “Horror movies are usually my go-to.” He admitted.

Now it was Thomas’s turn to be surprised. “Really? You watch horror movies?” Thomas reacted.

Virgil smirked and snickered. “I watch them all the time.” Virgil replied.

Thomas bit his lip. “I...but you’re…”

“I’m fight or flight? Yeah, funnily enough: I don’t get spooked easily.” Virgil added.

Thomas widened his eyes and clapped his hands. “Alright! Let’s watch a horror movie!” Thomas replied, turning on the TV. “Any specific horror movies you wanna watch?” he asked.

Virgil shrugged his shoulders. “It doesn’t really matter.”

Thomas soon came up with ‘The Silence of the Lambs’.

Virgil laughed when Thomas considered that one. “Do I look like a Remus to you?” He asked.

“No, but I do know you like cult classics. And this is as classic as it gets.” Thomas replied. “And: it was released on February 14th.” He added.

Virgil looked at the screen with a confused and surprised face. “Why was that the release date option for this thriller movie?” Virgil asked.

“Maybe we can watch and find out ourselves?” Thomas offered.

Virgil chuckled. “Oh BoY! I cAn’T wAiT!” Virgil declared in his best Remus impression. Thomas bursted out laughing at that. “Oh! I have an idea.” Virgil added suddenly. Thomas slowly stopped laughing and looked at him. “Let’s turn this into a game. First person to get scared gets tickled for an hour.” Virgil suggested.

Thomas raised his eyebrows. “Really?! Where the heck did that come from?!” Thomas asked.

Virgil froze up a little and bit his lip. “Remus and I used to play it.” Virgil admitted. “It was a challenge option that suited both of us, and we would make challenges based on the movies.” Virgil explained.

Thomas smiled and poked his side. Virgil jumped and shot him a warning look with a smirk. “The movie hasn’t started yet! That’s cheating!” Virgil yelled at him.

Thomas threw his hands up. “Fine, fine! Okay.” Thomas turned on the movie.

“Good luck.” Virgil purred in a teasy, smug voice.

Thomas smirked. “Good luck to you too.” He replied. Virgil gave Thomas a push as the production logos finished playing.

The movie started off with Clarice training and running in the woods. The movie moved right along to Clarice getting the case all the way to her seeing the information about Dr. Hannibal Lector and meeting him. The meeting was mostly quiet and as a result, it had been turned up quite loudly to catch the dialogue.

Partway through their first meeting, Clarice calmly throws a comeback to Dr. Lector’s personal and over specific observations about Clarice. Virgil smiled at Clarice’s intelligence. The feeling of satisfaction filled him as he looked away for only a minute, before the sound of something screeching made him jump and look back over.

The screeching was only a desk. A bloody desk. The movie had been so quiet until then.

Thomas laughed at this and started wiggling his fingers menacingly. “60 minutes of tickles is a gooooo!” He declared excitedly.

Virgil yelped and leaned back. “N-No! Nah! I-I wasn’t ready!-”

Thomas giggled and brought his fingers closer and closer to Virgil. “No one’s eeeever ready for jumpscares…” Thomas reminded him slyly.

Virgil bit his lip as a wobbly grin appeared on his face.

“Hey Alexa! Set a timer for 60 minutes!” Thomas yelled to the Alexa in the kitchen.

Virgil widened his eyes and punched his arm lightly. “You ass!”

[Setting a timer for 60 minutes.] Alexa replied.

Thomas immediately started tickling his sides and ribs first. Virgil grunted and bucked his hips, refusing to give him what he wanted without a fight. Thomas snickered at his determination. “I should’ve known the ticklish emo would hide his giggles.” Thomas said with a sly voice. “Am I gonna have to work to get any laughter out of you?” He asked as well.

Virgil glared at him, pushing Thomas’s shoulders while he fought. In response: Thomas grabbed his wrist sleeves in one hand, and pinned them a couple feet above Virgil’s own belly.

Virgil fought to pull his wrists away. “You won’t get me laughing.” Virgil angrily vowed, struggling to pull his sweater sleeves out of Thomas’s hand.

Thomas giggled at that, and took a mental note of the unzipped sweater. “There there, we’ll see about that!” Thomas dug his fingers into the open armpit. “A tickle-tickle-tickle-tickle-tickle!” Thomas teased as he moved his hand down to his upper ribs.

Virgil blushed a bright red from the teasing alone, and bit his lip hard as he writhed under the man.

Next, Thomas moved his hands to his belly and started drumming and squishing it. “Look at dis wittle bewwyyyy! It’s so squooshy and adorable!” Thomas teased even further in a baby voice.

By now, the teasing and tickling was starting to get to him. Virgil had started letting out a few little giggles here and there. “Shuhut uhup!” Virgil shot back.

Thomas gasped excitedly. “Was that a giggle I heard?” Thomas teased, still treating Virgil like a little kid.

Virgil just growled at that. “F-Fuck off.”

Thomas just continued to tickle him, going higher and higher pitched to baby him even more. “Was that a giggle I heard?” Thomas moved his hand to his side and started squeezing. “Was that a giggle giggle giggle I heard?” Thomas teased with his face closer to Virgil’s. Virgil clenched his teeth and started slightly tittering as his lips stretched and loosened. “I think it was!” Thomas answered his own question.

Virgil’s throat was letting out little titters and giggles while his lips were working against him and creating a smile despite his attempts to stop it. “Sh-Shuhut uhup! Ahass!” Virgil shot back hollowly while kicking and bucking to get Thomas off of him.

Thomas giggled and took another look at the unzipped sweater. The reality of the situation was that Virgil could easily get out of there. He could easily slip his hands out and run away without his jacket. So Virgil was either super connected to his jacket, or Virgil didn’t want to escape!

“Hey Virgil?” Thomas asked.

“Whahahat?” He responded.

“Do you like being tickled?” he asked him.

Virgil scoffed at that. “Whahat gahave yohohou thahat idehea?” Virgil shot back with a deepening red blush.

Thomas smirked and leaned in. “Don’t make me do it…” He warned. “Dooon’t make me do the raspberry thing!” Thomas warned, leaning closer and closer with a big smirk on his face.

Virgil glared defiantly at him. But...there was the slightest smirk on his face that told him everything: “Fuck. Off.”

Thomas smiled as he listened to that reply, and blew a BIG raspberry on Virgil’s covered belly. Virgil threw his head back and SCREAMED!

Thomas bursted out laughing at him as he lifted his head away from his belly. “Here lies Virgil Sanders. A beloved person with a blunt yet secretly caring attitude towards life. May his soul and cohohonfidehehence-” Thomas had to pause to let himself laugh at his own stupid joke, “Rehest in peheheace.”

Virgil punched Thomas in the arm with his ‘bound’ arm lightly. “Shuhuhut the fuhuhuck up!” He yelled back at him.

Thomas smiled in pure amusement as he resumed tickling his side. The man leaned in again and blew another belly raspberry on his ticklish victim.

Virgil started squealing and kicking as his laughter finally broke free from his lungs. “FAAAHAHAHAHAHAHACK!”

Thomas gasped excitedly and threw his fist in the air! “YES! I DID IT!” he shouted before returning back to tickling. Virgil just hissed through his laughter and shook his head.

Thomas quickly started tickling up and down his ribs and sides. He wanted to get as much laughter as he could out of Virgil, before the hour ended and the movie resumed.

Virgil threw his head back as he laughed harder, while squirming and shaking his body back and forth.

“Listen to his laughter! You can surely tell he’s experiencing heaven!” Thomas declared proudly.

Virgil glared right at Thomas again, kicking his legs uselessly behind Thomas.

Thomas took this as evidence to the truth. “Or maybe, this IS his heaven!” Thomas offered. “Is getting tickled by your main Sanders your ultimate choice of heaven?” Thomas teased.

Virgil’s face was bright and shaded with blush from forehead to collar bones. “I HAHAHATE YOHOHOHOU!” He shouted back.

Thomas sent Virgil a fake pity face. “Awww, I don’t think you hate me that much, do you?” Thomas asked, before giving Virgil’s belly button a poke.

Finally, Virgil pushed against him and tried sitting up. “Yehehehes!”

But Thomas gasped in hurt and offense. “How DARE you!” He reacted. “That hurts my poor, weakened heart! How dare you say such nasty things!” Thomas reacted dramatically, almost replicating a Roman move.

Virgil completely paled at his expression and immediately tried scrambling off the couch. But Thomas was fast! The man wrapped his arms around Virgil’s waist and pulled him right back into his ticklish demise. This time: in his lap.

“Screw you dude!” Virgil shot at him.

“The hour isn’t up yet, Virgil!” Thomas reminded him.

“I don’t care!” Virgil argued, squealing as Thomas was already getting back to work.

Thomas wrapped one arm around Virgil’s waist and used the other hand to squeeze and dig into Virgil’s hip. Virgil threw his head back against Thomas’s shoulder and laughed his heart out. This made Thomas smile happily. Listening to Virgil’s laugh was like a treat to anyone. So Thomas made it a point to listen to it without his own teasing drowning out the pretty sound.

Virgil continued to push against him, but his force had lessened quite dramatically from earlier. As an ending finale, Thomas made his other arm join around Virgil’s waist and blew a raspberry into his neck.

Thomas was expecting a loud scream, a burst of cackles or a snort of some sort!

But all he got was a short giggle fit. Though it was a lackluster finale, Thomas still applauded the sound of Virgil’s giggles.

Thomas lifted his head back up and noticed there was STILL no alarm going off to indicate the end of the timer. So, he decided to ask. “Het Alexa! How much time is left?” He asked.

[There is 10 minutes left on the timer. Would you like to stop it, Gay Lord?] Alexa asked.

Virgil wheezed at the unexpected nickname. THAT WAS THE ALEXA’S NICKNAME FOR THOMAS?! IT WAS PERFECT!

“GAHAHAHAY LOHOHOHORD!”

Thomas snickered at that too. “Ihi forgot I set that as my nickname!” he admitted.

Virgil snorted at that and continued to laugh hysterically at the nickname.

Yehehehes, stop the tihimer!” Thomas replied to Alexa.

[............You will need to connect to the internet first-]

Thomas leaned forward and bursted out laughing at that, while Virgil shook his head. “FUHUCK YOU, ALEXA!” Thomas yelled at the AI.

[But...But…]

Virgil leaned his head back against Thomas’s chest and laughed himself to tears. Virgil’s entire body was shaking and spasming from how hard he was laughing. Thomas was also just allowing himself to die of laughter. As it would turn out, the tickling he got from Thomas was nothing compared to Alexa’s stupidity! Alexa’s stupidity seemed to make him laugh even more!

Well, make that both of them.

Thomas soon stopped laughing and patted Virgil’s back to help him get it out so he could breath. Virgil had been tickled AND thrown into more fits of laughter after. So he was in more dire need of breath now than before.

Virgil eventually stopped laughing and was left with heavy panting. “Ahahaha...oh...oh my gosh…” Virgil tried to speak. “I...I’ll admit...I…” Virgil was starting to confess something to him.

Thomas allowed him time to get his words out and rested his head on the back of the couch. Thomas took the time to stop the movie that was still playing while they had the tickle fight.

Virgil bit his lip. “I...had a lot of fun…” He finally got out.

Thomas smiled genuinely at that. “Yeah?”

Virgil turned to look at Thomas behind him, and nodded. “Yeah.”

Thomas hugged Virgil from behind and rested his chin on his shoulder. But Virgil turned himself around and gave Thomas a tight hug. Virgil’s eyeshadow had turned a purple color from the love and affection he was getting. But there was still one more thing he wanted to tell Thomas.

“Thomas?” Virgil called.

Thomas tilted his head. “Yes?”

Virgil purred. “Uh...I uh…” He closed his eyes. “I love you.”

Thomas smiled and gently fluffed his hair. “I love you too Virgil!” Thomas replied.

Virgil cuddled up against Thomas and allowed him to play with his hair more. Virgil started to purr and melt into the touch he was being given. Before they knew it, both the boys had fallen asleep.

Later on, Roman had walked out of the room and noticed the two cuddlers. He giggled and took a picture before sending it to the others. After that, Roman draped a blanket on top of them and sat down on the other side of the couch.

Logan: [I’m delighted to see Thomas and Virgil spending time together.]

Janus: [This is totally not the cutest thing I’ve seen in ages.]

Roman laughed at Janus’s reaction and replied: [I know, right?!]

Remus: [Awww! Cuties! 💚💚]